Wheatley v. Tiffin City Schools lawsuit to be decided by mid-2019, records show

TIFFIN, OH — According to records from the office of Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, a lawsuit against Tiffin City Schools filed by a former superintendent is expected to be decided on or settled by mid-2019.

The records state the case is assigned to the standard track. The parties are to be joined and pleading amendments are due by 3/8/2019. A telephone conference is set for 5/29/2019 at 10:00 AM before Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick. The court will initiate the phone call, records show.

Wheatley is suing the district and local school board, alleging gender-based employment discrimination, retaliation, unequal pay (based on gender), and a hostile work environment.

Vicki A. Wheatley, of Port Clinton, served as Tiffin City Schools superintendent from January 2014 up until late July 2017.

Wheatley claims in the lawsuit, originally filed July 3, that she was told by school officials that they would “only hire a male,” and that her replacement, a male, only has his master’s degree and five more years of experience than her, but is receiving pay and benefits that are “substantially” more than what she received, according to the lawsuit.

Wheatley was often the center of the controversy during her time as superintendent, being accused of unfairness in the debate regarding the Family Learning Center and Tiffin City Schools’ partnership with local educational service centers.

Tiffin City Schools published a press release in response to the lawsuit. “The Tiffin City Schools board is unanimous in its support of new Superintendent Gary Barber who is aggressively implementing a plan to put our schools on the right path to success,” it states. “It appears to be working. Our ultimate success will be measured in terms of our students’ ability to be college or career ready.”

“We had an agreement some time ago,” the release from TCS states. “We will respond appropriately to the lawsuit.”